Integrated generator/converter for turbine applications

Abstract

An integrated generator/converter and turbine includes a turbine wheel having a plurality of turbine blades connected to an annular rim. A rotor is mounted to the annular rim and includes dual rows of permanent magnets circumferentially surrounding the annular rim and each row spaced axially from one another. A stator is mounted to a housing and includes a plurality of coils aligned between the dual rows of permanent magnets of the rotor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated generator/converter and turbine, comprising:
 a turbine wheel having a plurality of turbine blades connected to an annular rim;   a rotor mounted to the annular rim and including dual rows of permanent magnets circumferentially surrounding the annular rim and each row spaced axially from one another; and   a stator mounted to a housing and including a plurality of coils aligned between the dual row of permanent magnets of the rotor.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the stator includes a flexible printed circuit board strip including the plurality of coils soldered to the flexible printed circuit board strip. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of coils is connected with an AC/DC converter. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 3 , wherein each AC/DC converter includes a pair of diodes and a capacitor. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 4 , wherein the diodes and the capacitors are mounted to the flexible printed circuit board strip. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 5 , wherein each converter includes a fusible link in series with the diodes and capacitor. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the dual row of permanent magnets are ferrite permanent magnets. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the dual rows of permanent magnets each include at least 36 permanent magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coils include at least 36 coils. 
     
     
         10 . An integrated generator/converter and turbine, comprising:
 a turbine wheel having a plurality of turbine blades connected to an annular rim;   a rotor mounted to the annular rim and including permanent magnets circumferentially surrounding the annular rim and each row spaced axially from one another; and   a stator including a plurality of coils mounted to a flexible printed circuit board that surrounds the annular rim.   
     
     
         11 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of coils are soldered to the flexible printed circuit board strip. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of coils is connected with a AC/DC converter. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 12 , wherein each AC/DC converter includes a pair of diodes and a capacitor. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 13 , wherein the diodes and the capacitors are mounted to the flexible printed circuit board strip. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 14 , wherein each converter includes a fusible link in series with the diodes and capacitor. 
     
     
         16 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are ferrite permanent magnets. 
     
     
         17 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of permanent magnets include dual rows of permanent magnets. 
     
     
         18 . The integrated generator/converter and turbine according to  claim 10 , wherein the dual rows of permanent magnets each include at least 36 permanent magnets.